Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-06-22
A PROFESSIONAL BEGGAR.

In one or the n3nQSOmeSU Illus III
New York resides q man who Is d pro-
fessional beggar. By following this
occupation be has an income OF $10,-
900 per year. He goes into good soci-
ETY., and is oneof the greatest wits and
practical jokers in town, so that his
company is much sought after. He
does not 60 proving about the streets,
however, begging quarter or what
ever he can get. He would dlsdain to
accept less than 500; still he manages
to collect $4,000 a year. He used
TO be drummer for one OF the largest
dry goods houses here, and an excel
lent one he was, too, but he found he
could make more money begging. He
never asks money from any one but
rich people; and believe II any other
kind of people were to offer him money
ne would refuse it. ne does not, how
ever beg directly for himself, but for
the New York Children's Home. The
head OF the dry goods firm with which
be was formerly engaged is the presi-
dent Of the institution; and, knowing
that this sa esman was noted for his
cheek, he asked him one day during
dull season if he would circulate
among the millionaires and get up
subscriptions for the maintenance of
the institution. He agreed, and the
first day he started out he collected
mole than it was expected he could do
IN a week. The result was that he was
offered acertain percentage OF what he
collected, and he found that it would
pay him to keep at it all the time.
t. 1o,nIy
but now he has so systemized it that
on the whole he rather likes the busi-
ness, aside from what money there is
in is. fMy experience" he said,
''shows me that the average New
York millionaire is a much more lib
eral man than the public suppose.
The only difficulty is in seeing these
men and presenting your claims. |
worked six months before | was able
to see Jay Gould. During that ii ne
I went to his Office on an average OF
twice day and my efforts were in
vain.
FINALLY / caught him on, an ele-
waited train, and seating myself be-
side him, he was obliged to listen to
me / asked him for $500. He told
me to call on him the next day and
he would give me check for the
amount. went to his Office, but not
withstanding Istated what had passed
between the millionaire and myself,
/ was refused admittance to his pri-
vate room. | then made up my mind
that Mr.. Gould had thrown me off,
but / was determined to catch him
again. | found out where he kept his
private bank account, and gotta check
on that institution, which / filled out
for $500. A month afterwards l ran
across Mr.. Gould in the Windsor Ho-
tel. He did not remember me, but |
recalled our conversation, and he
again told me to call at his Office, but
I replied by presenting him the check
and telling him that IL would not
take moment to put his signature
to it, and he did. Since then Mr..
Gould has every year renewed his sub
scription without any difficulty, and
I really believe it gives him pleasure
to do go. Since then I have got to
know him, and the public would be
surprised if it knew the amount he
gives away each year in charity In
this unostentstious manner.
81 had still greater difficulty in Sc
curing 8 subscription from the late
William Ii. Vanderbilt. knew very
we'll that if | could talk with MIR. Van
derbilt there would be no trouble about
getting him to give me subscription,
and after innumerable calls upon him
without SUCCESS, I discovered that he
was in the habit OF having his tailor
send q man to measure him at his
house for suit of clothes. Invent one
night to his mansion and represented
myself as a. tailor, and in this way
was ushered into Mr.. Vanderbilt
presence. After exchanging greetings,
| said:
"Mr. Vanderbilt in order to get to
see you | have lied; but have done it
in behalf Of charity. Instead of COM
ing and measuring you for a suit OF
clothes, | have come to measure your
generosity in behalf of amost worthy
institution
"The millionaire was very angry at
first and started to call his valet and
have him show me the door, but [
impeded his exit and kept on talking
and before / got through | had Mr..
Vanderbilt's check for g. neat SUM,
besides taking & glass OF VINE and a
cigar with hina. Up to the time of his
death healways renewed his subscrip-
ton and his sons now do it for him.
eeThe easiest Of the millionaires to
get money from up to q year or so
ago was &. P. Flower. but his warm
hearted generosity became SO well
known that the man was actually
prosecuted. He is SO democratic III
his manners that any one who desires
can get an audience with him, and
there is always q lot OF beggars about
his office, hence he was compelled to
make it rule only to subscribe to or
gained charity. Now, if you would
see the subscription books OF the var
ious charitable institutions you would
see that New York's rich men are
pretty well represented upon them"
The Pink-Eyed PlttsleyS.